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“FRITZ, I NEED A FAVOR,” Katy started. She smiled sweetly at her cat.
He eyed her up and down suspiciously. “I don’t trust that smile. What kind of favor?”
“I need you to promise you’ll keep this to yourself,” she warned before continuing.
“Ah, the old, don’t tell Chip routine. I can get on board with that,” he answered with a chuckle.
“I’m looking to garner a little information out of someone, and you’re the perfect accomplice for the job.”
“I like where this is going,” Fritz answered.
“I’m warning you now that if Chip finds out, he’s going to flip. I shouldn’t be doing this, but I have a hunch about something.” Flip out was an understatement.
Fritz nudged Katy for more information. “Where do I come in?”
“Here’s what I’m thinking...”
***
KATY CARRIED FRITZ to Brody’s front door. “Are you ready?”
Fritz gave her a nod.
It was now or never. She drew a deep breath, then rang the doorbell. She’d timed it by watching when he came home.
A tall, slender man opened the door. He wore faded jeans, a gray t-shirt, and scuffed dark sneakers. He looked at the lady and the cat, then answered, “Yeah?”
Katy cleared her throat. “Hi, I’m sorry to bother you, but I found a cat wandering—”
“Not mine,” he said, about to close the door.
Fritz took the opportunity before the man could close the door. He flew out of Katy’s arms and sprung forward, leaping through the opened slot into Brody’s house.
“Wait! Come back...” Katy said feigning shock that the ‘stray’ cat ran into the man’s house.
The man groaned. “Seriously?”
“I’m so sorry. He likes me. Maybe if I call him, he’ll come over,” she said. “Here kitty, kitty.”
The cat played coy and ran into the next room. Brody grumbled and chased behind him.
Katy stepped inside. “I can help!”
Fritz jumped onto the sofa, then the back of the sofa, and up onto a bookcase. He’d need a solid bath after his fray into the land of dusty bookshelves. And books, or lack of books was more like it...a big television, yes, books, not so much.
A small dog caught sight of the cat in the living room and starting barking.
Fritz hissed.
“Peanut!” Brody yelled. “Knock it off.”
The dog took up position to defend his home and stayed focused on the four-legged intruder.
Fritz sat and cleaned himself, to add insult to injury. He taunted the dog from atop the shelves.
“Here kitty, kitty,” Katy said, while giving the room a sweeping glance. She bit her cheek, then went for it. “Hey, you look kind of familiar. Aren’t you....Brady, Brian, Brody or something like that?”
He turned toward Katy. “Brody. Why? Should I know you?”
“I think I met you before, a while back...where was it?” She snapped her fingers as if it just hit her. “Oh! Didn’t you used to date Valentine C something, Col...I can’t remember.”
“Valentine Colby, and yes.” He gave her another look, not sure what to make of the lady standing in his living room. “You don’t look familiar. Where did we meet?”
Katy shrugged. “Hard to remember. It was a couple years ago, I think. Wow, I’m surprised I even remembered your name.”
“You didn’t,” he said with a scowl. He turned his attention back to the cat.
“Close enough! Oh, I didn’t even think to ask. Did you hear the sad news?” Katy said, pushing for more information.
When he didn’t say anything, she continued. “She was murdered. It was absolutely tragic. I can’t imagine why anyone would...”
He reached up and just about swooped the cat. Fritz moved just in the nick of time. Brody went to the kitchen, grabbed a wooden chair, and brought it back to the bookshelf. He climbed onto the chair. “Enough, cat!”
“...Unless it was out of jealousy, you know, crimes of passion.”
Brody spun to face her and started to lose his balance. He caught himself and steadied his stance. “What are you up to?”
Fritz leaped for the sofa. The dog went wild and jumped. Fritz darted past the dog, then flew straight toward Katy. With a jump, he flung himself into Katy’s arms. “Oh, look, I’ve got him. I should go.”
“Not so fast,” Brody said. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“What question?” She played dumb. “I don’t want to take up any more of your time.”
“Lady, you better watch your back. I don’t take kindly to snoops,” he threatened.
“Snoops? No, you have the wrong idea. This cat here...”
“Get out!” he yelled, realizing he’d been played.
She scampered toward the door and slipped out before he slammed it behind her.
Fritz sighed. “You’re not very good at interrogating people, are you?”
“Why do you say that?” Katy was surprised he said something. She thought she played her part well.
“Subtlety is not your strong point,” he said. “I’m going to have to teach you a few tricks. For now, just give me a few minutes with the dog and I’ll get you what you need.”
“And how am I supposed to do that?” she asked.
“The dog has to go outside at some point, yes?”
Katy sighed. “I hope you have better luck than I did.”
“You’re like a bull in a china shop. No wonder Chip didn’t want you doing stuff like this. You spooked him.” He shook his head. “It’s a fine art, a subtle seduction.”
“I thought I did okay,” she claimed again. “I mean, we know something is up. The guy wouldn’t have spooked if he wasn’t hiding something, right?”
“Really? Stick to witchcraft...oh wait, not your strong point either,” he teased.
“Keep that up, and I made trade you in for a new familiar.”
“Ouch, Katamara. You wouldn’t dare!”
“Not a chance, buddy. We’re a team,” she said.
“Okay, let’s hang around the neighborhood for a bit. I’ll keep an eye on the backdoor,” he suggested.
Katy pouted. “Fine, if you’re so good at this stuff, you figure it out.”
***
FRITZ GREETED KATY about thirty minutes later. “He didn’t do it.”
“How do you know?” He seemed so certain.
“Peanut said he was out of town.”
“How do you know the dog isn’t covering for him?” she asked.
Fritz laughed. “That’s cute.”
“Aren’t dogs loyal?” She wasn’t sure where Fritz was going with this.
“Dogs aren’t good liars. Plain and simple. They think they have control of their tails, but their tails control them.”
“Are you sure he’s not a suspect?” She hated to leave a hot lead, but Fritz did have a lot of experience in this kind of stuff.
“Katy, you know my background. The government trusted me. I think you can.”
She nodded. “You’re right, it’s just...okay, never mind.”
Fritz sighed. She obviously wasn’t satisfied. “It’s just what?”
“Well, isn’t crimes of passion a big motivator when it comes to murder?” she asked.
Fritz sighed. “In this case, it wasn’t him. Maybe somebody else, but this guy is clear.”
“Fine, I’ll trust you on this one. Let’s head on home. Remember, we were out for a heart to heart about you getting a new job,” she reminded. “Chip can’t know about this. Seriously, we’d both get in big trouble.”
“Pizza delivery never was my thing. I miss being a high-clearance security agent.”
“Did you go to the Witch Council, like I recommended? No!” She hoped she made her point without having to lecture him.
Fritz groaned. “Fine, I’ll go. I’m just worried they’ll assign me something horrendous.”
“Like?”
“Being somebody else’s familiar...” he said.
“They can do that?” Her jaw dropped.
He shrugged. “Their rules. They get to do what they want.”
“Never mind, I’ll find something better for you. You can’t be somebody else’s cat.” The idea of Fritz living somewhere else was heartbreaking. They’d been together for ages.
Fritz laughed. “Look at you, all territorial.”
